The remains of Richard III have been reburied in a solemn ceremony at St Martin’s cathedral, Leicester.

The bishop of Leicester, Tim Stevens, said his mortal remains were being given the dignity originally denied them in death.

There were numerous references to Richard’s villainous reputation, stemming largely from Shakespeare, but it was emphasised they were not gathered there to judge, praise or damn him.

Ahead of the general election, which he mentioned, Stevens delivered a contemporary message warning about the modern threat of damaging tribal behaviour and of the “me” culture instead of the “we” culture.

Prayers were said for all of those who died in the War of the Roses and at the Battle of Bosworth where Richard fell.

There is a special anthem, Ghostly Grace, being sung by the choir now. It was composed from Richard’s books. While it is being sung the coffin is being moved to the grave and the archbishop of Canterbury will bless it.

Professor Gordon Campbell, fellow in Renaissance Studies at Leicester University and university public orator,begins with a eulogy, saying this is not a funeral to mourn but a ceremony to afford him a dignified farewell and “to return his bones to the earth”.

He says that Richard’s posthumous reputation has not been great, thanks largely to Shakespeare but this has been revisited over the years.

We have gathered in a spirt of reconciliation, he says, not to argue about facts.

He namechecks those involved in the discovery of Richard III’s remains.